Samantha Busch, the widow of NASCAR driver Kyle Busch, announced the death of her grandfather on social media approximately six weeks after her husband's passing. She shared a photo of herself with her grandfather, referring to him as 'Nonno,' the Italian word for grandfather.
In her tribute, she expressed hope that her grandfather and Kyle were "drinking Italian wine together in heaven." Samantha, who is of Italian descent, has previously spoken about her grandfather emigrating to the United States.
Kyle Busch died on May 21 at age 41 after being hospitalized when he became unresponsive during a race simulator session near Charlotte, North Carolina. His death was attributed to sepsis caused by pneumonia, which led to blood clotting, organ impairment, and hemorrhagic shock.
Days after Busch's death, Samantha attended the Coca-Cola 600 race with their two children, son Brexton, 11, and daughter Lennix, 4. The event included a moment of silence for the driver. Samantha noted that the support from friends and fans had provided comfort during the family's grief.
During the Coca-Cola 600 tribute, Samantha held Lennix, who wore checkered bows in her hair, a nod to her father's racing career. Brexton wore a cap with his father's No. 8, a number that will be retired until he potentially races in NASCAR. Kyle and Samantha were married for 15 years.